Other than relatives, my guess is that the next most common connector is one's place of origin. Since the beginning of time, clans and tribes have had words to describe it.

It is such an enduring connection, in fact, that modern slang includes the terms "homie" and "homes" to describe a person from your hometown or neighborhood, such as, "What's up, homes?"

The connection extends to those from your state and country, and even to a person with similar origin. Languages include terminology for those relationships as well, such as "countryman, comrade and friend." To Italians, it's "paesano," which describes a fellow countryman or friend.

As residents of primarily small towns in a sparsely populated state, South Dakotans have a unique kindred spirit with one another. We know each other pretty well. We know somebody who knows somebody, almost everywhere we go in South Dakota. As a friend of mine puts it, "South Dakota is the biggest small town in America."

This tie that binds seems to reveal itself most often when one is away from home. It brings comfort and security to us when we meet a fellow South Dakotan in some distant location elsewhere in America or the world.

While standing guard duty in Italy during World War II one dark night, my uncle Fritz was approached by another G.I. The voice from the darkness came forth.
"You're a long way from Dell Rapids, Paesano."

It was Art Nebben.

Art has a distinctive voice. Art didn't need to identify himself, or give a password. Fritz knew it was Art.

It was the best thing Fritz had heard in quite awhile, 5,000 miles from home during the war. Fritz found someone to stand duty for him that night, and two young G.I.'s from Dell Rapids shared a few pleasant hours together in war-torn Italy.

Art is now 95 years old. He just had some surgery, but word has it that he is doing well and will soon be home. I'm looking forward to seeing him again when he returns for his morning coffee to work the jumbles in the Argus.